The beauty and unpredictability of baseball. Before the series, if you had asked any Reds fan how would you feel if the Reds scored 5 runs in game 1 and 4 in game 2, they would have been overjoyed. The pitching that carried the team all year just could not get it done against the Dodgers.

The Dodgers took advantage with players on base and the Reds just didn’t. As many that were left on base for the Reds was the difference maker. 

2 minutes ago, hrcarrier said:

The Dodgers took advantage with players on base and the Reds just didn’t. As many that were left on base for the Reds was the difference maker. 

Yes, both teams played to their resumes in those situations.

Most enjoyable Reds season in several years. I'd loved to have beaten the Dodgers, but I ain't mad.

Looking forward to 2026 more than I've looked forward to a season in a long time. 

20 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Most enjoyable Reds season in several years. I'd loved to have beaten the Dodgers, but I ain't mad.

Looking forward to 2026 more than I've looked forward to a season in a long time. 

With the pitching, the Reds have stacked up on their roster, I don't see any way they can't compete and be in the playoffs next year. The hitting on this team was as bad as any in baseball and they still made the playoffs. The Reds need to make a significant trade for a middle of the lineup hitter, or fork out the dollars for a big free agent.

The Redlegs used smoke and mirrors, along with a heaping dose of the New York Mets - the gift that kept on giving.  Smoke and mirrors, you ask.  The Reds are the only team (in a non-shortened season) to qualify for the playoffs without:

A 15-game winner

A qualifying hitter with 25 homers or more

A qualifying batter hitting.270

A pitcher with 200 strikeouts 

Just now, mcpapa said:

The Redlegs used smoke and mirrors, along with a heaping dose of the New York Nets - the gift that kept on giving.  Smoke and mirrors, you ask.  The Reds are the only team (in a non-shortened season) to qualify for the playoffs without:

A 15-game winner

A qualifying hitter with 25 homers or more

A qualifying batter hitting.270

A pitcher with 200 strikeouts 

And those shortcomings were in full view against a vastly superior team.   

16 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

The biggest mystery of this season for me is McClain at the plate. Two years ago he was the best hitter on the team. He can't make contact on strikes. Pitchers throw fastballs right down the middle at the top of the zone and he rarely makes contact. He swings at bad pitches. He is completely lost at the plate.  

Will not argue, because you speak facts.  I give him a pass because of the serious shoulder surgery he is still rehabbing.  Probably still some restrictive motion.  Let’s hope he is back to pre-surgery performance by next spring.

7 hours ago, mcpapa said:

The Redlegs used smoke and mirrors, along with a heaping dose of the New York Mets - the gift that kept on giving.  Smoke and mirrors, you ask.  The Reds are the only team (in a non-shortened season) to qualify for the playoffs without:

A 15-game winner

A qualifying hitter with 25 homers or more

A qualifying batter hitting.270

A pitcher with 200 strikeouts 

The hitting stats I will give you. The Reds were bad. But on the pitching side ...

Counterpoint -

There are only 3 pitchers in the NL with 15 wins. Brady Singer tied for 4th with 14 wins. Only Milwaukee and Philadelphia had pitchers with 15 wins.

There were only 8 pitchers in the NL with 200 strikeouts. The Cubs did not have a pitcher with 200 k's.

NL WAR for pitchers (source: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2025-pitching-leaders.shtml):

1.	Sánchez • PHI	8.0
2.	Skenes • PIT	7.6
3.	Abbott • CIN	5.6
4.	Peralta • MIL	5.5
5.	Pivetta • SDP	5.3
6.	Wheeler • PHI	5.0
7.	Yamamoto • LAD	5.0
8.	Lodolo • CIN	4.9
9.	Suárez • PHI	4.7
10.	Greene • CIN	4.4

Three of the top 10 are Reds.

And if the Reds got in the playoffs with smoke and mirrors, more credit to how good a manager Terry Francona is.

 

32 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

The hitting stats I will give you. The Reds were bad. But on the pitching side ...

Counterpoint -

There are only 3 pitchers in the NL with 15 wins. Brady Singer tied for 4th with 14 wins. Only Milwaukee and Philadelphia had pitchers with 15 wins.

There were only 8 pitchers in the NL with 200 strikeouts. The Cubs did not have a pitcher with 200 k's.

NL WAR for pitchers (source: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2025-pitching-leaders.shtml?

1.	Sánchez • PHI	8.0
2.	Skenes • PIT	7.6
3.	Abbott • CIN	5.6
4.	Peralta • MIL	5.5
5.	Pivetta • SDP	5.3
6.	Wheeler • PHI	5.0
7.	Yamamoto • LAD	5.0
8.	Lodolo • CIN	4.9
9.	Suárez • PHI	4.7
10.	Greene • CIN	4.4

Three of the top 10 are Reds.

And if the Reds got in the playoffs with smoke and mirrors, more credit to how good a manager Terry Francona is.

 

I told anybody who would listen that Francona would be a six game improvement all by his lonesome. A game a month. 

Buster Olney and Eduardo Perez say Greene was tipping his pitches (not on purpose) on Tuesday.  Sitting on what they wanted. 

42 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

The hitting stats I will give you. The Reds were bad. But on the pitching side ...

Counterpoint -

There are only 3 pitchers in the NL with 15 wins. Brady Singer tied for 4th with 14 wins. Only Milwaukee and Philadelphia had pitchers with 15 wins.

There were only 8 pitchers in the NL with 200 strikeouts. The Cubs did not have a pitcher with 200 k's.

NL WAR for pitchers (source: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2025-pitching-leaders.shtml?

1.	Sánchez • PHI	8.0
2.	Skenes • PIT	7.6
3.	Abbott • CIN	5.6
4.	Peralta • MIL	5.5
5.	Pivetta • SDP	5.3
6.	Wheeler • PHI	5.0
7.	Yamamoto • LAD	5.0
8.	Lodolo • CIN	4.9
9.	Suárez • PHI	4.7
10.	Greene • CIN	4.4

Three of the top 10 are Reds.

And if the Reds got in the playoffs with smoke and mirrors, more credit to how good a manager Terry Francona is.

 

I’m with you on the pitching.  It’s just one of those things - no team in MLB history had ever reached the postseason with all four of those things happening. 

And pitching has improved over the last quarter century (or hitting has gotten worse with the affair with the long ball).  Nearly fifty .300 hitters in 2000.  Eight or nine this season. 

14 hours ago, theguru said:

I hope Gary the Lion doesn't join them.  I would love FCC to make a big run in the playoffs.